The last Post

Lets start at the very beginning...that's a very good place to start.
Thank you....
To Keitha in her infinite wisdom 'to just get it booked and do it'....thank you.  X
To Gail Frances for looking after the 'Little White Menace' that is my little Manu.  Appreciated it so much knowing he was well cared for by his aunty Gail. X 
To Victoria for suggesting we took a limo from the office to the airport instead of a taxi...it was all of mmmm $5 more and got this adventure off to a great start...thank you Miss Vic...for we both remember the horrors of the Melbourne taxis from last year. X
Thanks to Bob and  Patricia for keeping an eye on the house. X
Thanks to Mark for setting up this blog at short notice..always there to help out the oldies. X

Thanks to Steve John too for kindly collecting us from the airport. X
Thanks also to everyone who has shared this with us.  I know we didn't set the comments part up but we know the stats for the blog and have had heaps of comments via fb messenger and emails...thanks to all. X
Finally and not the least ...thanks to the Old Badger for most excellent skills in organising this trip of a life time...what a hoot we have had.
Oh and thanks to me for the Train trip...my idea...big Gold  Star Bat.
Even if things have been a bit...well less than perfect here and there..it has invariably been hysterical...well once the shock wore off in a couple of cases lol
He has been amazing.  Driving on the 'wrong' side of the road for nearly a month, in a manual (which he hasn't driven for years)...amazing.  We always got where we needed to be, mostly on time and without damaging the car. If you could have seen some of the condition the cars were in, especially in Spain...he did a grand job.  But most of all...I was eternally grateful that he refused my offer to share the driving....mostly with the events of Girona....he never lost his bottle...awesome job but more importantly...Barcelona...what a hero.
6 weeks 24/7 with my soul mate....Thank you my love it has been magical..and if this is what retirement will be like...then bring it on.  XXX

The flights?...We flew Air France who are in a partnership with China Southern  Air.  It seems the current thing...these 'partnerships'.

All I can say is..'Air France what were you thinking????'  it's sort of like they arrived late at school the first day when everyone was paring off....and all the other best friends were taken.    Yeah..not a fan...give them a big miss...unless they get a new best friend in the future. 

We flew Premium Economy..which was leaps and bounds better than Economy but...no where near as good as Business. I guess you always get what you pay for.

So to wind up ....the last of the photos.
The Cheshire cat.  One of many which was sort of like a 'Where's Wally thing'
Paul trying to light the BBQ at the Oliverier..the olive grove...took him about an hour all up....my fault, note the girly drink I mixed complete with strawberry..what was I thinking...as soon as he had a beer...no worries.
Now that is a proper pork pie.
The killer staircase(s) at Arles..note the 'landing' and I use the term loosely...about 40 cm.
The little Volvo that was on the adventure with us and got us to each new place safe and sound.
The little creature in Girona...the rough translation is 'kiss my...posterior'
Irish pub...no matter where you go in the world...you will always find an Irish Pub....it became a bit of a game with us...everywhere we went we found one.

Au revoir ....perfect last day...in Paris

What a brilliant end to the holiday....
We decided that only having the one full day in Paris, we would take a day tour.  This included a bus tour of the city, a river cruise down the Seine and lunch at the restaurant in the Eiffel Tower.  It was absolutely wonderful...everything you could wish for including an arrogant waiter...now come on...it would have disappointing without that.
Absolute magic...he thought he was funny...and he was. Paul bounced comments back at him and he seemed to respect that..so it was a giggle.  Pure magic.  The food was wonderful to top it all off.  What a view. 
The city of Paris was amazing, the architecture, the history...just wonderful. 
Parisiennes were really nice.  To begin with we got a tad confused after getting off the train first thing on our way to meet the tour, so we asked a shop keeper who was just opening up for the day for help and despite our poor French and his battle with English, he was so nice and actually escorted us to the road we were looking for.    Everyone we approached for help were very nice.  Despite the warnings of pickpockets, I still felt really safe and comfortable (even on the diabolically disgusting underground -yukko...never complain about our rail again btw...it may not function properly...trains may get cancelled, late etc.  but if you think it is filthy and disgusting...then think again)...anyway, I digress.
We finished off our day by visiting the little village near our Hotel.  We booked near the airport for ease and it was like an industrial estate but of hotels...sort of like Hotel alley.  We were almost the last on the road...we walked a few metres to the end of the road and sort of stepped back in time...from huge hotels like the Marriot etc. and then there is Roissy...this sweet little village.  So we had one last drink and said au revour to Paris and our holiday. 
Never thought I would say that and some of you know I was not keen on going to France at all...(my last experience there was pretty awful)..but this time it was a dream...new memories. I would love to see Paris again on foot and nose around and Provence is also a given.

A day in Paris

It started with coffee and croissants at a little cafe near the Louvre.

Nurse...nurse, he's out of bed again....

All I can say is that my husband is one of the most intelligent, organised, thorough, grounded and cluey people I know.   So...who is this person I have been travelling with and what has he done with my husband?
We are all ready, bags packed.  I wanted to pop downstairs to wait for the taxi but the Badger wanted to wait in the apartment.  The taxi arrives a little early, he spots it from the open window and it's action stations ...carting all the bags down (remember there is no parking etc.) so...like 2 mad fools we almost fly down the two flights dragging bags in our wake....it took two trips btw. ..the luggage has been breeding. 
Start loading up the taxi...and...he realises he left his backpack...with passport etc.  in the apartment....leaving the keys on the table as requested. Jheeezh.  Traffic is pretty consistent but the  taxi driver could see I was pretty distressed he just said...'it's ok...don't worry'  he didn't seem to have a problem with parking illegally... in a LANE. God bless him.  He waited with us and  20 minutes later.... that same lovely young chap who let me in on the first day turned up,  back pack retrieved, we were on our way...for about a kilometre anyway....motorbike at the traffic lights informs our driver 'flat tyre'....you couldn't make this stuff up could you.
We got to the airport, found the duty free for a bit of retail therapy but more importantly...found a bar.  Sitting there...and I do have a photo...a guy walks past in a ...'male organ costume'....seriously.  I jumped up to take a photo and just got him before he descended down the escalator....turned to go back to my seat and a Yorkshire terrier trots past in a tutu.   Tutu or not...how can you get a dog into an airport???? ..... only in Barcelona.  Didn't get a shot of that sadly.
I am beginning to feel like the world is going mad....time to go home me thinks.
Arrived at hotel and need to seriously get some sleep.  Tomorrow it's our last day and we are off out at 6.30am for a tour of Paris....if we manage to wake up on time.

Today's shots

I am just so totally captivated by the architecture!  Thinking of the Lovely Gail Frances again today as I know how she loves it too.

Dia Cuatro Barcelona

Another very full day...discovering amazing things at each turn of a corner.  Almost worn our feet out ....me thinks we are probably an inch shorter than when we left home.  Mind you, it is much needed exercise.
Tried again to get to see the Cathedral but even trying to book on line for tomorrow is a 'no can do'....  well we could just about manage it if we stressed ourselves out before heading off to the airport tomorrow...so ...narh....we have decided there will be a next time ....so, next time it will be...they may have completed more by then. hehehehehe
Off to Paris late tomorrow afternoon for the very last and somewhat short leg of this jaunt.